Comments on: Your Personal Pace, Part 3 http://pastorforlife.org/your-personal-pace-part-3/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:09:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jan Owen http://pastorforlife.org/your-personal-pace-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Jan Owen Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:52:28 +0000 http://pastorforlife.org/?p=78#comment-53 Oh I forgot to say that I am no good with a quiet time when I first get up. I am not a morning person. So I get up, check email and just putter on some blogs, then I exercise, THEN I can actually have a meaningful moment with God and read some too.......I tried the other way but I just fell back asleep...... Oh I forgot to say that I am no good with a quiet time when I first get up. I am not a morning person. So I get up, check email and just putter on some blogs, then I exercise, THEN I can actually have a meaningful moment with God and read some too…….I tried the other way but I just fell back asleep……

]]> By: Jan Owen http://pastorforlife.org/your-personal-pace-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Jan Owen Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:50:51 +0000 http://pastorforlife.org/?p=78#comment-52 I am still working on this but one thing I have learned is that when I do things cause I "ought" to, there is little life in that for me. IF there is little life, there is little transformation and little communion with God. So, with that said, I am taking my sabbath on Fridays. I have not "perfected" this but I have found a huge thing for me is that I have SPACE in my life. I don't have a ritual, but I just am with God and relax. I have found that journaling and being in nature both work for me to help me connect with God. The biggest thing that has kept me on track lately is my spiritual retreats I do quarterly. Again, it's the space and solitude. So I would say space, solitude, journaling, reading, and connecting with God in worship, the outdoors, and relaxed praying (not with a list, just being) have been big steps for me this year. I am still working on this but one thing I have learned is that when I do things cause I “ought” to, there is little life in that for me. IF there is little life, there is little transformation and little communion with God. So, with that said, I am taking my sabbath on Fridays. I have not “perfected” this but I have found a huge thing for me is that I have SPACE in my life. I don’t have a ritual, but I just am with God and relax. I have found that journaling and being in nature both work for me to help me connect with God. The biggest thing that has kept me on track lately is my spiritual retreats I do quarterly. Again, it’s the space and solitude. So I would say space, solitude, journaling, reading, and connecting with God in worship, the outdoors, and relaxed praying (not with a list, just being) have been big steps for me this year.

]]> By: Bernie http://pastorforlife.org/your-personal-pace-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Bernie Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:12:19 +0000 http://pastorforlife.org/?p=78#comment-51 Don't sacrifice your life for the church and don't sacrifice the church for your life and limitations. Don’t sacrifice your life for the church and don’t sacrifice the church for your life and limitations.

]]> By: Lauren http://pastorforlife.org/your-personal-pace-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Lauren Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:02:09 +0000 http://pastorforlife.org/?p=78#comment-50 Yep, that's helpful:) I'm enjoying your posts Paul. They've prompted some interesting discussions at our house. Yep, that’s helpful:) I’m enjoying your posts Paul. They’ve prompted some interesting discussions at our house.

]]> By: Paul http://pastorforlife.org/your-personal-pace-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Paul Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:36:28 +0000 http://pastorforlife.org/?p=78#comment-48 Lauren .... I try to make sure that however I live out my spiritual disciplines works within the context of my current season of life. For instance, with two teenage boys, I struggle to find the time and ways to example to them how to have their own spiritual disciplines without just doing mine with them. Yet, sometimes (most times) our schedules don't necessarily mesh to make that happen. Rather than getting frustrated, or to force my time to work with theirs, I recognize it as a season of life and enjoy the chances we DO get to connect and disciple my kids. In general, the current pace of my time with God is usually found in 2-3 slots of the day. I personally connect well with the Lord when I am in the process of waking up. Rather than launching out of bed right away (which doesn't work well for me physically), I intentionally try to wrap my tired and waking mind around the presence of God, committing my day to Him right away. Then, somewhere in the middle of my day, I take some solitude and my Bible, reading through the Psalms, an OT chapter and a NT chapter. In the evening, where I used to set up my next day religiously, I use some of that time to connect with God again. I reflect on the day's events, ask His help to discern what I need to really let go of and what I need to go at again tomorrow, and for His peace to fill my home overnight. For me, that pattern builds a more open connection to what God wants to say or do between those times. Instead of "meeting" with God, I get the sense that I am more truly "walking" with God. Then, as you mention, Sabbath is huge for me. I also do 2-4 Study Breaks a year where I get most of my more intense Bible Studying done. Not that I don't do some a couple times a week, but chunks come in those Breaks. I could go on with more, but is that helpful? Lauren …. I try to make sure that however I live out my spiritual disciplines works within the context of my current season of life.

For instance, with two teenage boys, I struggle to find the time and ways to example to them how to have their own spiritual disciplines without just doing mine with them. Yet, sometimes (most times) our schedules don’t necessarily mesh to make that happen.

Rather than getting frustrated, or to force my time to work with theirs, I recognize it as a season of life and enjoy the chances we DO get to connect and disciple my kids.

In general, the current pace of my time with God is usually found in 2-3 slots of the day. I personally connect well with the Lord when I am in the process of waking up. Rather than launching out of bed right away (which doesn’t work well for me physically), I intentionally try to wrap my tired and waking mind around the presence of God, committing my day to Him right away.

Then, somewhere in the middle of my day, I take some solitude and my Bible, reading through the Psalms, an OT chapter and a NT chapter.

In the evening, where I used to set up my next day religiously, I use some of that time to connect with God again. I reflect on the day’s events, ask His help to discern what I need to really let go of and what I need to go at again tomorrow, and for His peace to fill my home overnight.

For me, that pattern builds a more open connection to what God wants to say or do between those times. Instead of “meeting” with God, I get the sense that I am more truly “walking” with God.

Then, as you mention, Sabbath is huge for me. I also do 2-4 Study Breaks a year where I get most of my more intense Bible Studying done. Not that I don’t do some a couple times a week, but chunks come in those Breaks.

I could go on with more, but is that helpful?

]]> By: Kevin M. http://pastorforlife.org/your-personal-pace-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Kevin M. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:34:24 +0000 http://pastorforlife.org/?p=78#comment-47 Lauren beat me to posting so I will share something else. :) I can totally relate to this statement: "How many of us (too many, in truth) have “done the duties and disciplines” for the sake of saying we have done them, and yet still find ourselves falling to temptation and lacking transforming connection with our Creator?" This was me for a LONG time. This is still something that I struggle with from time to time. I used to beat myself up when I missed my quiet time - I don't do this as much anymore (God is still working on me). My goal now is to connect with God regularly and this doesn't always happen through a formal quiet time. Sometimes it happens when I go for a walk or when I just lay on the bed and rest. Thanks for posting this Paul! Lauren beat me to posting so I will share something else. :)

I can totally relate to this statement: “How many of us (too many, in truth) have “done the duties and disciplines” for the sake of saying we have done them, and yet still find ourselves falling to temptation and lacking transforming connection with our Creator?” This was me for a LONG time. This is still something that I struggle with from time to time. I used to beat myself up when I missed my quiet time – I don’t do this as much anymore (God is still working on me). My goal now is to connect with God regularly and this doesn’t always happen through a formal quiet time. Sometimes it happens when I go for a walk or when I just lay on the bed and rest.

Thanks for posting this Paul!

]]> By: Lauren http://pastorforlife.org/your-personal-pace-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Lauren Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:36:32 +0000 http://pastorforlife.org/?p=78#comment-46 One of the biggest changes I've made (along with Kevin) in the area of spiritual disciplines in the last year is to deliberately observe a sabbath every week most often on Fridays. I'm actually surprised at the impact it has had on my relationship with God, my health and the strength of my marriage. The sabbath is an amazing gift that God has offered that I simply hadn't taken Him up on:) Taking that one day to rest and enjoy God and each other has helped to stop one week from running into the next and effectively slowed down the pace of my life into a manageable one. On the few weeks that we haven't managed to keep a sabbath I feel it and not in a good way. Great question Paul...I'm curious to know what works for you or is that coming in a later post? One of the biggest changes I’ve made (along with Kevin) in the area of spiritual disciplines in the last year is to deliberately observe a sabbath every week most often on Fridays. I’m actually surprised at the impact it has had on my relationship with God, my health and the strength of my marriage. The sabbath is an amazing gift that God has offered that I simply hadn’t taken Him up on:) Taking that one day to rest and enjoy God and each other has helped to stop one week from running into the next and effectively slowed down the pace of my life into a manageable one. On the few weeks that we haven’t managed to keep a sabbath I feel it and not in a good way.

Great question Paul…I’m curious to know what works for you or is that coming in a later post?

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